Hole stitching device for zigzag sewing machine



April 7, 1964 BUNSAKU TAKETOMI 3,127,856

HOLE sTITHING DEVICE FOR zIGzAG SEWING MACHINE Filed bec. s, 1959 ssheets-sheet 1 /fvrE/v 70H.'

BOA/.SAKU /FETOM/ A 7 7 @IPA/ YS April 7, 1964 BUNSAKU TAKETOMI3,127,855

HOLE STITCHING DEVICE EoR zIGzAG sEwING MACHINE Filed Deo. 5, 1959 ssheets-sheet 2 April 7, 1964 BuNsAKU TAKETOMI 3,127,855

HOLE STITCHING DEVICE FOR ZIGZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed Dec. s, 1959 3sheets-sheet s /VVENTOR Bl//VSA/fl/ TA KE TOM/ United States Patent O3,127,856 HLE STlTt'IHlNG DEI/ECE EUR ZIGZAG SEV/ENG MACHlNE BunsakuTalretorni, 9 Zachorne, Uchiyama-cho, Chilrnsadru, Nagoya-shi, JapanFiled Dec. 3, i959, Ser. No. 856,968 Claims priority, application JapanSept. 23, 1959 3 Claims. (Cl. i12-77) My present invention relates to anattachment for sewing machines, especially those of the zigzag type,adapted to `facilitate the stitching of b-uttonholes.

The general object of this invention is to provide an improvedattachment of this character whose use requires only minor structuralmodifications of an otherwise conventional zigzag sewing machine andwhich, in a machine so modified, may be conveniently taken into and outof service.

The aforestated object is realized, pursuant to the present invention,by the provision of a depression in the machine bed of a zigzag sewingmachine adjacent the usual needle plate thereof, this depressionaccommodating an intermittently and unidirectionally rotatable drivepinion whose operation is suitably synchronized with that of the sewingneedle; removably received in the depression is a coupling member which,via rack teeth forming `an endless track on its underside, meshes withthe pinion and in turn fits into an opening of an elongated feed plateoverlying the needle plate. In order to keep the feed plate horizontalabove the machine bed, the coupling member is formed with a peripheralshoulder which supports the rear end of the feed plate at the level oflthe needle plate; the front end of the feed plate, resting on theneedle plate underneath the usual pressure foot, has an elongated cutoutfor the needle and is further provided with upstanding serrations togrip a piece of fabric placed on the feed plate and held against it bythe pressure foot in its lowered position. An intermediate portion ofthe feed plate is formed with a longitudinal slot engaged by a studwhich rises from the machine bed between the needle plate and theaforementioned depression, the combination of this stud and the suitablyshaped endless track serving to displace the feed plate in abuttonhole-stitching pattern past the sewing needle and the pressurefoot of the machine. The individual parts of the assembly, i.e. the`feed plate and the coupling member, can be disconnected from itsdriving mechanism and removed from the machine by simply lifting it olfthe bed, with the coupling member removably fitting into the rearopening of the feed plate so as to be likewise detachable therefrom.

Advantageously, -in order that the operation of the machine may not besignificantly affected by the use or non-use of my attachment, the feedplate is made of only limited thickness, preferably less than the heightof the shoulder of the coupling member on which it is supported.

The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to theappended drawing in which:

FiG. 1 is an elevational View, in transverse section taken on the linelI-I of FIG. 2 in a plane near the sewing mechanism of the machine,showing the buttonhole-stitching device of the invention and associatedelements;

FIG. 2 is a plan View of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the mechanical parts of thedevice `of FIGS. 1 and 2;

lFIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of the left end of themachine bed to which the device of this invention is to be attached;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of another embodiment of this`invention showing the principal parts constituting a holewtitchingunit;

FIG. 6 is a plan View showing the hole-stitching unit of FIG. 5 in itsassembled state;

FIG. 7 is an elevational View, partly in section, of the device shown inFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective View showing, in the assembled state, amodification of the unit of FIGS. 5 through 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective View showing the upper surface of the leftportion of a sewing-machine bed wherein a horseshoe-shaped cutout hasbeen provided for the installation of the unit illustrated in FIGS. 5through 8;

FIG. 10 is an elevational View, partly in section, showing anothermodification of the hole-stitching unit of this invention;

`FIG. 11 is a plan view of the device of FIG. 10;

FIG. l2 is an elevational view, partly in section taken in the vicinityof the installation point of the unit of FIGS. 10 and 1l, perpendicularto the longitudinal direction of the sewing machine, showing a portionof the sewing machine and said unit installed therein; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the upper surface of the leftportion of a sewing machine of a type wherein a shuttle bobbin isaccessible from the front side thereof, with the unit of iFIGS. 10`through l2 installed therein.

The embodiment 4of FIGS. l through 4 is described under the headingFirst Embodiment; the embodiment of FIGS. 5 through 9 under the headingSecond Embodiment; and the embodiment of FIGS. 10 through 13 under theheading Third Embodiment.

First Embodiment 4As shown particularly in FIG. 3, the principalelements of the novel mechanism according to the invention comprise afabric-feed plate 12; a coupling member 41f1 formed on its undersidewith internal gear teeth i111b defining an endless track; and anassembly composed principally of a pinion 5, which engages the internalgear teeth of member 11, and a clutch mechanism consisting of a roller'17 and a clutch plate 8` for converting the oscillatory drive motionfrom an oscillating arm 1 of a fabric-feed mechanism, of conventionalconstruction, into intermittent rotation of pinion 5.

As further illustrated in FiGS. l through 4, the pinion 5 for drivingthe rack member 11 is fixed to a pinion shaft 3 over a flange 4 .and hasa center pin 6. The pinion shaft 3 is inserted rotatably in a yboretraversing the left portion of the machine bed ll, more specifically,directly behind the needle slot `25 of the needle plate 26, and theflange 4 lies rotatably in a counterbored depression in machine bed l.The portion of bed 18 around the pinion 5 is cut out to form a shallowdepression 19 having a flat bottom, parallel to the top surface of themachine bed 18, and having a configuration in plan view which will notinterfere with the motion of the rack member 11 received with clearancein depression 19. The pin 6 and the pinion 5 above flange 4 projectlabove the bottom 4surface of the depression '19.

Below the machine bed 1d, the roller 117 and the clutch plate 8 areassembled to form a roller clutch on the lower end of the pinion shaft3, plate tu?` having a center hole in which shaft 3 is frictionallyreceived. The clutch plete 3 is engaged from lbelow by a washer 7, whichin turn is held in place yby a tightening screw 9. The plate 8 isprovided with an eccentric slot i17, besides its center hole, and thisslot 17 guides the roller i7 in such a manner as :to provide aunidirectional clutch which rotates the shaft 3` in only a singledirection, e.g. counterclockwise. Accordingly, when the plate 8 isrotated counterclockwise, the shaft 3 is rotated in the same direct-ionas the plate 8, but the shaft 3 does not rotate when the plate S isrotated clockwise. One arm d' of the clutch plate 8 is maintained inconstant and firm contact, by the -force of a spring 16, with one end ofthe oscillating arm `1' extending from a part 1 of the conventionalfabric-feed mechanism, spring :16 being fixed to the machine bed 18 by ascrew 23; consequently, the shaft 3 and pinion 5 are intermittentlyrotated by the oscillating movement of the arm 1. the usual fabric-feedcontrol lever (not shown), the oscillation amplitude P (FIG. 1) of thefeed-control oscillating arm 1 can be varied `at will; consequently, therorational velocity of the pinion 5, which turns at a speed determinedby the movements of arm 1', can be selectivel-y controlled. Numeral 21designates a reinforcing rib o-f the machine bed 118. An opening isformed in rib 2'1 so as to provide clearance for such work as insertingthe pinion shaft `3 and assembling the clutch assembly or tightening thewasher.

The above-described parts constitute the mechanism installed on themachine bed 13. This mechanism merely utilizes the motive poweravailable from -a fabric-feed mechanism already installed in a sewingmachine to ro tate a pinion at variable speed. While a roller clutch isemployed in this embodiment as the transmission element providing theintermittent motion of the pinion, any other suitable means `forachieving the same end resul-t may be used as, for example, a stepwisespeed-changing mechanism such as .a ratchet-wheel-and-pawl mechanism ofthe single-tooth or plural-tooth type.

The plate 12, which `feeds and guides the fabric material duringhole-stitching operation, is -a single ply of extremely thin hard steelsheet, l or less in thickness, punched out to the required plan form anddimensions. Feed plate 1,2 thus has a thickness which, as clearly seenin FIG. l, is considerably less than lthe height of the peripheralshoulder 11a of coupling member 11 on which its rear end is supported onthe level of needle plate 26. It has two elongated, slot-shaped punchedholes 12 and 13', one near each end thereof. The rear opening 12 is somade that it can lit closely about the raised portion `1t) of the rackmember y11 whose internal gear teeth can mesh with the aforementionedpinion y5, said raised portion 10 being provided, at its underside, witha guide slot 11 resembling the configuration o-f a buttonhole. At theother end l1.3 of the feed plate `12, on its upper surface -surroundingthe elongated cutout 13', a plurality of sharp teeth 22 are formed forpreventing slippage -between plate 12 and the fabric mater-ial to beplaced and held thereon for the stitching operation.

In FIGS. l and 4 the elements '214 and 2S are, respectively, a stitchingneedle and a fabric-feeding rocker arm having a forked end 29 straddlinga roller 29a.

For the hole-stitching operation, the rack member 11, fitted by itsraised portion y1t) closely into the hole 12' of the fabric-feed plate1,2, is lowered into such a position that the pinion lS and the pin 6are, respectively, in engagement with the internal gear teeth 11b andwith the slot r11 as they project above the surface of the depression19, plate 1.2 being so disposed that a longitudinal slot 27 provided inits central part engages and accommodates a pivot pin 14 protrudingabove the upper surface of the machine bed 118 at a predetermined point.The working or front end of the feed plate 12, i.e. the portion havingthe hole 13', will thus be placed over the needle plate 26 with theteeth 22 on its upper surface. It will be seen that, if the sewingmachine is now operated, the pinion `5 will intermittently rotate inaccordance with the `oscillation of the arm 1'; accordingly, thefabric-feed plate 12 will perform a hole-stitching motion according -tothe configuration of the internal track 11b of member i111, thetransmission of power and motion being effected pantographically.

In conventional buttonhole attachments used heretofore, the`fabric-holding teeth have been directed downward, the fabric beingplaced on the upper surface of the needle On the other hand, by themanipulation of plate '26, and the -fabric-feed plate being made topress down upon the fabric from above to move said fabric. In contrast,in the ldeviceof the present invention the toothed yfeed pla-te :12 isplaced on the upper surface of the needle plate 26; the fabric materialis placed on the upper surface of the said plate 12; the fabric materialis held down by the presser foot 15 as the feed plate 12 is moved tofeed and guide the fabric which, although held down by the foot 15, isfree to slide with respect thereto in all horizontal directions.Consequently, there is the convenience in that the trouble ofdisconnecting or changing the presser foot 15 is eliminated.

As `a result, by the device of this invention the manual proceduresbefore and after hole-stitching are convenient and require a minimum ofmanipulative time and effort, because it is merely necessary to place asimple assembly, i.e. a rack member of the required configuration and asingle sheet-metal member constituting the feed plate 12, onto `thepinion 5 so that the pivot pin 14 is accommodated by the slot 27 inpreparation for hole stitching, and to lift off the assembly after thehole stitching.

It will thus be seen that, in the embodiment just described, drivingpower is derived from the existing fabricfeed mechanism of the sewingmachine and only a small number of parts as illustrated in FIG. 3 aresufficient for the attainment of the objects of this invention.Moreover, because the density of stitches, or stitching pitch, may bevaried at will by moving the feed lever, which is standard equipment ofall sewing machines, strong buttonholes such as could not be made byconventional attachments can be produced by the present device.

When hole stitching is not being carried out, the rotation of the pinion5 is unnecessary. Therefore, the motion of the pinion may be stopped bymerely separating the arm S of the clutch plate S from the oscillatingarm 1; this can be done by means of simple mechanical means such as alever or a push pin. The pivot pin 14 may be of a retractable type,disappearing into the bed 18 when retracted and reappearing whenextended for use.

Second Embodz'ment The modified embodiment of this invention illustratedin FIGS. 5 through 9 is a hole-stitching device to be installed in azigzag sewing machine in which the motive power for the device is againderived from a reciprocating member of the fabric-feeding mechanism ofthe ma chine and the same driving pinion 5 as in the precedingembodiment is provided for driving the same combination of an endlessrack 11 and a fabric-feed plate 12.

In this modification, however, the hole-stitching device is constitutedas an integrated drive unit and, without interfering with or influencingthe manufacture of the zigzag sewing machine in any way, is installedtherein by being fastened thereto by means of only two screws aftercompletion of the assembly of the machine.

Accordingly, the unit may be produced, assembled, and carefully adjustedin a separate factory if necessary and installed in a sewing machineaccording to need. This feature affords efficiency and economy inproduction.

As shown in FIGS. 5-7 and 9, numeral 30 designates an attachment baseplate having a bore 31 at its center and a counterbored recess 32concentric with the bore 31. The recess 32 has a size suitable foraccommodating completely the flange 4 of the pinion 5 and an elasticwasher 33, the bore 31 being traversed by the shaft 3 of the pinion 5.The lower side of the base plate 3i) has a hub-like projection 34,surrounded by a helical spring 35 which is anchored at one end by ascrew 36 to the base plate 30 and at the other end to a threadedextension 37 of a wedge-shaped ratchet pawl 38 adapted to be fastened toone portion of an oscillating plate 47, spring 35 imparting a restoringforce to plate 47.

In the assembled state of the device, a ringshaped member 40 is disposedagainst the lower surface of the oscillating plate 47, ring 40 having alarge hole 41 into which a disk 43 rigid with an annular flange 42 fitsfrom below, and a smaller hole 4l which communicates with hole 41 at theedge thereof and which accommodates the aforementioned ratchet pawl 38having a crescent-shaped concave edge 38. The assembly of theaforedescribed principal parts of the unit is completed, after they havebeen placed in their relative positions illustrated in FIG. 5, byfitting the center hole 39 of the disk 43 around the lower portion 3 ofthe shaft 3, and locking the same by means of a set screw 45 in the hub44 rigid with flange member 4Z.

An arm portion 46 of the oscillating plate 47, extending outwardly (tothe right as viewed in FIGS. 5 through 7), has a tapped hole 48 in whichis fixed a screw 49 holding fast an eccentric ring cam 5t). The armportion 46 is so arranged as to position the cam 50 at a location wherethis cam is in constant contact with a reciprocating member 51 of thefabric-feeding mechanism of the sewing machine, the constant contactbeing maintained by the aforementioned spring 35. By adjusting theangular setting of cam 5t), the amplitude P (FIG. 6) of the oscillatingarm 46 can be varied at will within the limits imposed by the eccentricconfiguration of this cam.

The portion of the oscillating plate 47 encompassing the pinion shaft 3has a hole 52 which is considerably larger in diameter than the shaft 3passing through it. The pawl 38 which is attached, by its threaded part3'7, to a tapped hole 37 of the plate 47 oscillates withunidirectionally effective wedge action in the small hole 41.Consequently, in the driving stroke of the ratcheted mechanism, pawl 38tightly holds the disk 43 iitted into the large hole 41, thus lockingthe disk 43 to the plate 47. The driving motion of the plate 47 is thustransmitted through the disk 43 to the pinion shaft 3, 3 to which thedisk 43 is fixed, and thence to the pinion 5.

On the return stroke of the reciprocating member 51, the oscillatingplate 47 is swung back by the force of the restoring spring 35. In thiscase, however, the crescentshaped edge 3S of the wedge pawl 33 separatesslightly from the disk 43, and the grip of the pawl is released to suchan extent that it cannot rotate the disk 43 against the frictionalresistance afforded by the elastic washer 33 (FIG. 5). Therefore, theshaft 3 cannot be rotated backward during the return stroke of theoscillating plate 47. Thus, the motion of the plate 47 consists ofarcuate oscillations in the directions R1 and R2 with the wedge pawl 38as the pivot. As a net result, the combination comprising the disk 43and its flange member 42, shaft 3, 3', and pinion 5 is made to rotate inonly one direction.

The installation of the unit of the above-described construction isextremely simple, consisting merely in forming a horseshoe-shaped cutout52., 53, 54 at a suitable position on the machine bed 18 as shown inFIG. 9, mounting the base plate 30 of the unit on the ledge 54, andfastening the sarne by means of screws passed through holes 56 in thebase plate 30 into tapped holes 55 in ledge 54.

The hole-stitching operation of the unit of the abovedescribedconstruction is the same as that of the first embodiment.

When the above operation is not being carried out, the rotation of thepinion 5 is unnecessary wherefore, preferably, it should be stopped byseparating the cam 56 from the reciprocating member 51 of the sewingmachine. This power cut-off can be effected by rotating a screw 57,threaded into the base plate 30, with a screwdriver, in thecounterclockwise direction, thereby rotating the screw 57 and an arm 5Sfixed thereto in the same direction. The arm 58 contacts and pushes apin 59 fixed to a portion of the arm 46 of the oscillating plate 47,thereby moving the cam 50 away from the sweep of the reciprocatingmember 51. The screw 57 rigid with arm 58 is held iirmly in its selectedangular position by such means as a spring (not shown).

A unit of an even simpler construction utilizing a ratchet-and-pawlmechanism is illustrated in FIG. 8. A ratchet wheel 60 is provided atthe lower end of the shaft of pinion 5 below plate 30a, and a pawl 60apositioned for engagement with ratchet wheel 59 is provided on a portionof the oscillating plate 47 having an arm 46. By this simple means, thepinion 5 is made to rotate by steps in only one direction.

T hrd Embodiment The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l0 through 13 isadaptable principally to zigzag sewing machines of the type having ashuttle facing toward the front, i.e. toward the operator. In this typeof sewing machine, various driving mechanisms, such as a gear-and-piniondrive or a crank-type drive, are used; but in almost all cases a gearbox 61, housing the drive shaft, gears and other moving parts, extendsto the far side (as viewed by the operator) of the machine bed 18, andit is diicult to install the drive mechanisms for thebuttonhole-stitching device of this invention in the forms described inconjunction with the preceding figures. The embodiment now referred tohas been adapted to overcome this diiculty in a simple manner.

FIGS. l0 through 13 illustrate a conventional construction including adriven gear 62 xed to a shuttle drive shaft 63. For the installation ofthe unit of this ernbodiment, a cam surface with a small stroke of theorder of 1 millimeter is formed on the face 64 of gear 62. A pin 65slidably contacting and following the cam surface 64 is inserted intoand slidably supported by a transverse hole drilled in a part of thegear box 61, the axis of the pin 65 being non-coincident with the axisof the shaft 63. In accordance with the rotations of the gear 62 and thecam surface 64, the pin 65 is made to undergo axially reciprocatingmotion of an amplitude of the order of l millimeter by the action of thecam surface 64. The pin 65 is held against cam surface 64 by a pusherplate 66 forming part of the buttonhole-stitching unit of thisembodiment. Consequently the pin 65 imparts its motions to the pusherplate 66.

In the assembled state of this unit, the pusher plate 66 is pivoted on apivotal shaft 67 and is pushed against the pin 65 by a spiral spring 68.An arm 69 fixed to the plate 66 is thereby caused to undergo oscillatorymotion, and a ratchet pawl 70 rotatably supported on the end thereofpushes a ratchet wheel 71 in rotational motion. The ratchet wheel 7l isfixed to a shaft 72, which has a throughgoing bore 73 with a squarecross-section extending along its axis. A drive pinion 5, similar infunction to those of the preceding embodiment, is connected to the shaft72 by having its square-section shank 74 inserted into the hole 73.Thus, the rotational motion of the shaft 72 is transmitted directly tothe pinion 5.

The unit of this embodiment is of an extremely small size as is apparentfrom FIGS. l0 and 11, which are drawn substantially to full scale, and,as is also apparent therefrom, its construction is simple. It comprisesessentially a frame bracket 75 formed into an angle by bending a plateat right angles to provide anges 75a and 75h with semi-circular ends;the shaft 72 with a shoulder 76, inserted from above into a shaft holein the center of the horizontal ange 75a; the ratchet wheel 71 fittedupwardly from below onto and about the shaft 72, clamping the flange 75abetween itself and the shoulder 76 of the shaft 72 for joint rotationwhile being held against rotation relative to shaft 72 by a key (notshown) and against movement in the axial direction relative to shaft 72by a snap-ring 77 acting via a spring washer 78 which is elasticallycompressed with a force imparting suiiicient rotational friction towheel 71, the ring 77 being locked axially to shaft 72 by elasticengagement in an annular groove about the periphery of the lower end ofshaft 72; the pusher plate 66; the oscillating arm 69; a hub sleeve 79rigidly connecting plate 66 and arm 69; the stepped pivotal shaft 67inserted through and pivotally supporting the hub sleeve'9 by beingscrewed xedly into and against the lower surface of the flange 75a; theratchet pawl 70 supported pivotally on arm 69 and engaged by its tipwith the ratchet wheel 71; a pawl spring S0 attached at its free end topawl 70 to impart an engagement force thereto, this spring beinganchored to arm 69; the spiral spring 68 seated in a depression of theflange 75h and pushing elastically against plate 66 so as to impartthereto a positive following action with respect to pin 65 and,furthermore, to provide a sucient restoring force for the oscillatingmotions of plate 66, sleeve 79 and arm 69; and a stop 31 for limitingthe return strokes of these oscillating motions.

As mentioned previously, the oscillating motions cause the ratchet pawl70 alternately to engage with and disengage from the teeth of theratchet wheel 71, thereby successively advancing this wheel by one toothat each cycle.

When the unit of the second or the third embodiment, whichever is moreconvenient, is applied to a zigzag sewing machine, the driving pinion isused, in the same manner as described in connection with the rstembodiment, for driving the same fabric feed plate 12 in order toaccomplish buttonhole stitching (cf. FIG. 13).

While I have described particular embodiment of my invention, it will,of course, be understood that I do not wish my invention to be limitedthereto, since many modifications may be made; I, therefore, contemplateby the appended claims to cover all such modications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a sewing machine, in combination, a bed provided with a needleplate and a lowerable pressure foot above said needle plate, said bedbeing provided with a depression adjacent said needle plate and with ahole in the bottom of said depression;

a shaft extending upwardly through said hole, said shaft being providedat its top with a pinion rising above said bottom;

a stud rising from said bed between said needle plate and saiddepression;

an elongated feed plate movably disposed on said bed above saiddepression and said needle plate, said feed plate being provided at oneend with a needlereceiving elongated cutout underneath said pressurefoot and at the other end with an opening overlying f said depression,said feed plate further having an intermediate portion with alongitudinal slot engaged by said stud, said feed plate being formed -atsaid one end with upstanding serrations for gripping a fabric placedbetween it and said pressure foot; an oblong coupling member positionedwith clearance in said depression, said coupling member being providedwith a peripheral shoulder at the level of said needle plate supportingsaid feed plate and with a projection above said shoulder detachablytting into said opening for positive engagement between said couplingmember and said feed plate, said coupling member being provided on itsunderside with rack teeth forming an endless oblong track around saidpinion and in mesh therewith; and drive means for intermittentlyimparting unidirectional rotation to said shaft and said pinion, therebydisplacing said feed plate in a buttonhole-stitching pattern past saidpressure foot.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said feed plate is of athickness less than the height of said shoulder above said bottom.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the underside of saidcoupling member is provided with a closed guide slot following theoutline of said track, said pinion being provided with an upstanding pinprojecting into said guide slot.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS246,765 Harris Sept. 6, 1881 318,471 Harris May 26, 1885 322,811 Egge etal July 21, 1885 347,133v Smith et al. Aug. l0, 1886 375,304 Trull Dec.20, 1887 .552,691 M1llS Ian. 7, 976,431 Boyler Nov. 22, 1910 1,331,070Lechleiter Feb. 17, 1920 2,849,972 Wurker Sept. 2, 1958 2,894,467 ThomasJuly 14, 1959 2,895,439 Lipfert July 21, 1959 2,927,547 Enos Mar. 8,1960 2,944,497 Waterman July 12, 1960 3,051,106 Caldwell et al Aug. 28,1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 336,360 Great Britain Oct. 16, 1930

1.IN A SEWING MACHINE, IN COMBINATION, A BED PROVIDED WITH A NEEDLEPLATE AND A LOWERABLE PRESSURE FOOT ABOVE SAID NEEDLE PLATE, SAID BEDBEING PROVIDED WITH A DEPRESSION ADJACENT SAID NEEDLE PLATE AND WITH AHOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID DEPRESSION; A SHAFT EXTENDING UPWARDLYTHROUGH SAID HOLE, SAID SHAFT BEING PROVIDED AT ITS TOP WITH A PINIONRISING ABOVE SAID BOTTOM; A STUD RISING FROM SAID BED BETWEEN SAIDNEEDLE PLATE AND SAID DEPRESSION; AN ELONGATED FEED PLATE MOVABLYDISPOSED ON SAID BED ABOVE SAID DEPRESSION AND SAID NEEDLE PLATE, SAIDFEED PLATE BEING PROVIDED AT ONE END WITH A NEEDLERECEIVING ELONGATEDCUTOUT UNDERNEATH SAID PRESSURE FOOT AND AT THE OTHER END WITH ANOPENING OVERLYING SAID DEPRESSION, SAID FEED PLATE FURTHER HAVING ANINTERMEDIATE PORTION WITH A LONGITUDINAL SLOT ENGAGED BY SAID STUD, SAIDFEED PLATE BEING FORMED AT SAID ONE END WITH UPSTANDING SERRATIONS FORGRIPPING A FABRIC PLACED BETWEEN IT AND SAID PRESSURE FOOT; IN SAIDDEPRESSION, SAID COUPLING MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A PERIPHERALSHOULDER AT THE LEVEL OF SAID NEEDLE PLATE SUPPORTING SAID FEED PLATEAND WITH A PROJECTION ABOVE SAID SHOULDER DETACHABLY FITTING INTO SAIDOPENING FOR POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID COUPLING MEMBER AND SAIDFEED PLATE, SAID COUPLING MEMBER BEING PROVIDED ON ITS UNDERSIDE WITHRACK TEETH FORMING AN ENDLESS OBLONG TRACK AROUND SAID PINION AND INMESH THEREWITH; AND DRIVE MEANS FOR INTERMITTENLY IMPARTINGUNIDIRECTIONAL ROTATION TO SAID SHAFT AND SAID PINION, THEREBYDISPLACING SAID FEED PLATE IN A BUTTONHOLE-STITCHING PATTERN PAST SAIDPRESSURE FOOT.